Apple predictions for 2012
Macworld’s recent 2012 Predictions article rounds up a few Apple-inclined blogosphere members and gets them to predict Apple’s moves for the coming year. I thought I’d give the game a try myself.
Mac OS X
While OS X itself won’t get any big changes this year, what with Lion having just arrived last year, Apple’s Mac software may get some attention. We’re about due for a new version of iLife, though probably not until later in the year, and we’re well overdue for a new version of iWork. I’d expect most new Mac software to build on iCloud somewhat, integrating better with iOS versions of the same apps. It will be interesting to see how Apple approaches iLife updates, since it will be their first since they were made available on the Mac App Store.
iOS
While I seriously doubt we’ll see an Apple TV set, I think we will see an update to the Apple TV box, and an expanded iOS to go with it. This could even extend to third-party app development for Apple TV.
I think on the iPhone and iPad side, we’ll see Siri’s capabilities expanded, though not to allow third-party integration just yet. We may also see Apple’s replacement for the Maps app to move away from reliance on Google.
Hardware
A new iPad early in the year is almost a given. Rumours suggest it will have a retina display and an A6 processor, and I don’t doubt it. I also think Apple will keep the iPad 2 around, making it a cheaper option in much the same model they use with iPhones.
For the iPhone 5, I’m going to go against conventional “wisdom” and suggest that Apple will not dramatically change the industrial design. It may get lighter and slightly thinner, but my prediction is that the iPhone will still look pretty much the same. I’ve been planning a post on just how well considered the iPhone’s industrial design is, and for Apple to change such an excellent and iconic design just doesn’t seem to feel right. Sure, the rest of the industry changes their industrial design every 3 months, but why should this not be another area in which Apple goes against the industry? I have a lot to say on the issue, so I’ll continue in a future blog post.
I also think we’ll see the first MacBooks Pro that look like MacBooks Air, raising the bar further for “Ultrabook” makers.
And probably a new Mac Pro too.
Pie-in-the-sky wish
I’d love to see an iTunes Match for movies, though I seriously doubt this would happen any time soon, if at all. At least a better way to buy (rather than rent) HD movies would be nice, which you currently can’t do in Australia at all. It would also be cool to be able to buy a movie at a discounted price if you’ve already rented it, kind of like Complete My Album.
Also, retina displays on Macs would be nice. The MacBooks Pro would be prime candidates to get something like this.
